Overview
- Reservations that opened on Jan. 15 cover May 15 to mid-June and were available on Recreation.gov, with prime Yosemite Valley sites typically filling within minutes.
- Campsite Tonight’s review of 2023–2024 data shows only about 54% of release-day and lottery bookings are kept, with a 27% jump in cancellations during the seven days before arrival.
- Founder Mike Lee reports cancellation activity often clusters around 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., and his app can alert users and, for paid accounts, add a released site to the cart for a 15‑minute checkout window.
- Planning ahead with a Recreation.gov account, targeting stays of three nights or fewer, and considering alternative campgrounds—such as Tuolumne Meadows’ later releases, Camp 4’s one‑week window, or nearby national forest sites—improves the odds.
- Large RVs and trailers face tighter constraints, with only 11 sites across Upper, Lower and North Pines accommodating trailers over 25 feet, and the next reservation window opens Feb. 15 for June 15 to mid‑July.